August 16 - 31, 2018
OPINION
PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY
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Breaking
Point
By Rosette Correa
Filipinos are such a forgiving
people. We have seen this happening
in many instances, as we are pacifists
and do not really want to engage in an
argument if we don’t have to be in one.
So, when President Rodrigo Duterte
declared that Senator Bongbong
Marcos is one of the better qualified
leaders to succeed him if ever he
resigns or steps down, Filipinos
kept a tight lip, and while it is never
acceptable to usurp a position from a
duly elected official such as the current
Vice President Leni Robredo, no one
will say anything because they just
don’t want the confrontation, unless
it smells like a political repression of
freedom and liberty. Harry Roque,
Duterte’s spokesperson, made this
assertion after the President expressed
preference for either Marcos or
Senator Francis Escudero to take on
the country’s top job should he decide
to cut short his six-year term that ends
in 2022.
Duterte said that he is just
making true his word, that he will
hand over the presidency to Marcos
when he wins the protest. Of course,
this is, plain and simple, pushing his
agenda to further is and his cronies’
plans to take over the Philippines once
again. The whole world is looking at
the Philippines through magnifying
lenses, screaming, “ What? Another
Marcos?”
Duterte, expressed frustration
over continuing corruption in
government as he floated (again!) the
possibility of cutting short his term,
Bulong
Pulungan
By Deedee Siytangco
Reprinted from Manila Bulletin
ANGEL THOUGHTS
Its easy to become soft in America.
Who does not want to enjoy the freedom?
But as long as the Filipino people are
suffering, I think it would be more
meaningful if we can go back there and
share that suffering. —Benigno “Ninoy”
Aquino Jr.
**********
The charismatic opposition leader
who had been jailed for seven-and-a-
half years did come back. He could have
remained in sweet exile in the US, but his
sense of patriotism to try to do something
for his beloved countrymen made him
come back. He wanted try to talk sense
to the dictator, his fraternity brother in the
Palace.
His decision to return was against
the well-meaning advice of supporters
Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and Robredo
raising the white towel in defeat.
This after close to 10,000
deaths through his program
Oplan Tokhang, and who knows what
other projects that promised to rid
the Philippines of drug dealers and
the criminality brought about by the
drug business. His cronies forgot to
remind him during the presidential
elections that he was actually running
a country, and not a small city called
Davao, and that his Charles Bronson-
Death Wish type of rule wasn’t going
to work on a drug-riddled, police-
corrupted and politician-abused
system of government that millions of
Filipinos know will never be resolved.
His attempts to be popular by his
pronouncements
of
vigilantism,
hating and cursing God, appointing
a porn star as assistant secretary of
the Presidential Communications
Operations Office, among others, is
now stale and tiring, and people aren’t
buying it anymore.
He expressed his aversion to the
fact that Robredo is his constitutional
successor. It’s like an itch he cannot
scratch. He thinks it’s wise to just
simply dismiss her, but this move you
cannot really do by simply shooting
your foot off. That’s a move PM
Justin Trudeau has mastered. Not
giving the presidency to Robredo if
he does resign is another familiar
historical event coming - a widow in
yellow, Marcos as the enemy - sound
familiar?
Leave it to Duterte to justify his
choice - belittling Robredo’s leadership
ability, saying she could not handle
the country’s pressing problems
including the
drug menace.
Look
who’s
talking - he
himself wasn’t
very successful
at it. A cowardly
move. Belittling
the enemy to
look good.
Duterte
should
look
to
92-year
old
Mahatir
Mohamed for
inspiration.
The old guy
came back to
life when he
resurrected at a debate whether he
was fit to rule again as Prime Minister
of Malaysia. He says he’s not yet
senile, and dared the debaters to say
it in his face.
That was a Charles Bronson
move. It was pure, trademark
Mahatir.
In an unlikely comeback, he’s
switched sides in Malaysian politics,
coming out of retirement to unite an
opposition that’s seeking to end his
former party’s 60-year hold on power
and oust his protege, Prime Minister
Najib Razak, in May 9 elections.
Unlike Mahatir though, Duterte
will not come back into politics the way
the Malaysian tiger did. No comparison
is fitting. Not even Ferdinand Marcos
can do the same, so son Bongbong
shouldn’t even try to be like dad.
Mahatir’s retirement in 2003 was
welcomed by many Malaysians who
wanted the country’s progress to be
measured more by more than just
GDP figures. His goodbye was not a
shameful one, but one that was made
to make sure Malaysia moved on. His
legacy though, although somber and
dictatorial in nature, made Malaysia
an
economically
well-sustained
country, thus, his comeback may not
be impossible. People have even said
that Mahathir is now welcomed by
many “as a messianic figure, someone
who has come back from the past” to
redeem the country.
Duterte won’t be able to hold
a candle to Mahatir. Once Duterte
steps down, he steps down like any
other failed politician who promised
a miracle, but left the Philippines in
shambles the way it was originally in,
and worse than before. He’s another
political figure that Philippine history
has to deal with in shame.
Ninoy Aquino Remembered
on his 35th Anniversary
and his family. His assassination by
his military escorts sent to “secure”
him, in front of the international media
group which accompanied him, lit the
spark that became the bloodless People
Power Revolution three years later. His
funeral, attended by more than a million
people, was a big blow to President
Marcos.
Last Tuesday there was a 35th year
memorial mass for Ninoy at the gravesite
he shares with the woman who stood
behind him and supported him while he
fought for democracy and freedom. In
the afternoon, Tindig Pilipinas organized
another mass at the historic Sto. Domingo
Church and it was full of yellow-clad
supporters and friends of Ninoy. Portions
of EDSA was again festooned with yellow
ribbons!
His only son, the former President,
reminded supporters that “if
we are to follow the footsteps
of those who came ahead of
us, we should do our part, no
matter how small we think it
is. Let us keep in mind,” he
continued, “that it is not up
to Pedro or Juan or whoever,
to save us. Let us keep in
mind that we are the ones
responsible for our future.”
And yes, he will campaign
for the opposition candidates POWER COUPLE. Ninoy and Cory Aquino
that makes me feel better,” her only son
next year!
Now, how do Ninoy’s two eldest mused.
Cory succumbed to color cancer and
children, Ballsy Cruz and former President
Benigno S. Aquino III, remember their its complications and was memorialized
mother, the Icon of Democracy, Corazon with a funeral procession that lasted
several hours because of the million or so
C. Aquino?
“I still miss mom, very much! And mourners who lined the
when I do, I talk with my siblings and streets from San Juan to CONT PAGE 14
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